Safety boot heel clamp for skis



O United States Patent 1 1 3,545,780

[72] Inventor Georges PJ. Salomon [56] References Cited :11: Lovmhy m UNITED STATES PATENTS g fg 3,278,195 l0/l966 Salomon 280/11.35 $55 April 25 1968 3,291,500 12/1966 Vosteretal. 280/11.35

,4l4,28l l l 8 280 l 4s Patented Dec. 8, 1970 3 96 f f I 1 35 32] Priority May 3, 1967, Jan. 10, 1968 Primary EmmmerBan1amm Hersh [33] France Assistant Examiner-John A. Pekar [3]] 105,234 and 135,564 Anomey-Pierre Lesperance.

ABSTRACT: This invention concerns a safety boot heel clamp for skis having a heel retaining jaw and comprising one or more organs, of which at least one element in contact with 1 the boot heel and with an elastic means put under tension [54] SAFETY BOOT HEEL CLAMP FOR SKIS when the boot is clamped and maintained in tension by the 11 claim 22 Drawing Figs presence of the boot heel, is released by the removal of the [52] US. 280/11.35 boot heel which has not caused the safety opening of the jaw, [51] Int. A63c 9/084 this release causing the retraction of a reaction piece of the [50] Field ot'Search; 280/11.35, jaw safety locking mechanism enabling said jaw to automatil 1.35(HA) cally take an open position.

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INVENTOR Georges P/ 514101140 BY KL- W SAFETY BOOT HEEL CLAMP FOR SKIS Known safety boot heel clamps for skis must be open and then recocked by theuser when, for example, the boot heel has disengaged the clamp without causing the safety opening of the jaw due, for instance, to a torsion on the boot causing release of the toe safety clamp.

This double operation is often difficult to effect in deep snow or on a steep hill.

The present invention has for its object to obviate the above-mentioned disadvantage in a simple manner.

In accordance with the invention, which is applied to safety boot heel clamps for skis of the'type having a boot retaining jaw resting on the boot heel, the clamp is characterized by the fact that it constitutes one or more organs of which at least one element which is in contact on the one hand with the boot heel and on the other hand with an elastic means put under tension by the boot and maintained under tension by the presence of the boot heel, is'released by any disengagement of the boot heel which has not caused the safety opening of the jaw, this release causing directly or indirectly unlocking of a reaction piece of the safety locking mechanism of the jaw, thereby enablin'gthe latter to automatically take an open position.

The invention will become more'apparent by referring to the following description and to the annexed drawings showing nonlimitative preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows in longitudinal section a safety boot heel clamp for skis in accordance with the invention in closed position;

FIG. 2 is a view of the clamp of FIG. 1 during opening of the jaw following lateral disengagement of the ski boot;

FIGS. 3 and 4, 5 and 6, 7 and 8, 9 and 10, 11 and 12, 13 and l4, l5 and l6, l7 and 18, 19, 20, and 21, 22 are longitudinal sections in closed and open position respectively of other embodiments of the clamp in accordance with the invention.

In FIG. 1, theheel of ski boot 1 is clamped on a ski 2 by a jaw 3 of a safety boot clamp. This jaw is pivotally mounted and is pressed on the boot heel by means of a coil spring 6 bearing on the one hand with the intermediary of a pivoted arm 7 on ramps 8 of said jaw 3, and on the other hand against a screw 10 screwed in a sleeve 9, which is slidably mounted in the easing of the clamp. w

Screw 9 enables to adjust the compression force of the spring. Sleeve 9 is maintained in an advanced position by means of a hook I1 protruding from an arm 12 pivoted on a shaft 13 and provided with a return spring 14.

Arm 12 has a boss 16 engaging the lower portion of the ramp 8 of the jaw 3. If, for any reason, such as torsion forces exerted on the boot which would cause the opening of the toe safety clamp without effecting the safety opening of jaw 3, the boot heel disengages the boot heel clamp, as shown in FIG. 2, jaw 3, which is pressed by spring 6, will pivot downwardly and push on boss 16 of arm 12, whereby the latter will rotate in accordance with arrow 17 about axis '13, and release hook 11 from groove 18 of the slidable sleeve 9; the latter, thus released, will move back, thereby decompressing coil spring 6 and canceling the safety locking force on the jaw.

A tension spring 19 attached at one end to the jaw 3 and at the other end to the sleeve 9, is put under tension by the latter, which has been retracted by spring 6 and, therefore, causes rotation of jaw 3, which takes the open position shown in dotted lines at 20.

In FIG. 3, the ski boot 1 is clamped on ski 2 by a jaw pivotally mounted in clamp housing 26. This jaw 25 is elastically urged into engagement with the boot heel by a tension spring 27 attached at oneend to an arm 28 of jaw 25 and at the other end to a bar 30, which is slidably mounted within the housing 26.

This bar 30 is maintained in spring tensioning position by a "stud shaft 32, secured thereto, forming one end of a toggle lever arrangement including two arms 33 and 34 pivoted one to the other by pivot 35 and on a fixed stud shaft 36 at the other end, the arm 34 being provided with a notch 37 engaged by the end of arm 28 in such a manner as to maintain the axes 32, 35, and 36 in locking alignment for the bar 30.

Any disengagement of the boot heel which has not caused the safety opening of the jaw 25 (see FIG. 4) will cause the latter to fall under the pull exerted by spring 27 and will therefore cause sliding of the end of arm 27 along the back ramp of notch 37, thereby causing downward pivoting of arm 34 and the break of the toggle lever arrangement, pivot 35 moving towards the ski. There is thus obtained forward movement of bar 30, tension release of spring 27 and opening of jaw 25, said opening being assisted by atension spring 40 attached at one end to jaw 25, and at the other end to housing 26.

In FIG. 5, ski boot 1 is clamped on ski 2 by a jaw 55 pivotally mounted in clamp housing 56. This jaw is safety locked by a ball 57 pushed by a spring 58, which rests against an adjusting screw 59 screwed in a slidable sleeve 60, this sleeve being retained by a hook 61 of a lever 62 pivoted in housing 56, rotation of said lever in the direction of arrow 17 allowing uncocking of the safety locking mechanism.

A treadle 63 is pivoted at 66 and causes recocking of the safety locking mechanism upon downward movement of the same, because it has an arm 67 bearing against the back of a collar 68 of sleeve 60, this treadle being pulled upwardly towards the jaw by means of a tension spring 69.

In FIG. 6, the boot 1 has released the clamp without having placed the jaw 55 in open safety position.

Treadle 63, urged by tension spring 69, moves upwardly and causes pivotal movement of lever 62 in the direction of arrow 17, acting on forward extension 70 of said lever 62. Lever 62 releases sleeve 60, thereby causing uncocking of spring '58. Thus, the upward movement of treadle 63 enables the opening of jaw 55 in the direction of arrow 17, said opening being effected by the action of a stud 71 secured to the treadle and engaging a ramp 72 of jaw 55.

A tension spring 73 secured at 76 to the housing 56 and at theother end to extension 70, causes the return movement of lever 62 to its original position.

In FIG. 7, a clamp housing 80 is slidably mounted in slideways 81 secured to ski 2 and is pressed towards the boot heel by a compression spring82 located in a boss 83 of said slideways. The boot is clamped by a pivoted jaw 86 safety locked by a ball 87, which is'pushed by a compression spring 88 bearing at the other end against a screw plug of a sleeve 89 slidably mounted in the housing.

Bushing 89 is retained in advanced position by a hook lever 90 pivoted in the housing.

When the boot becomes disengaged, as shown in FIG. 8, housing 80 moves forwardly in slideways 81 under the action of the coil spring 82. Ramp 91 of lever 90 slides on a finger 92 which is secured to the slideways 81, causing rotation of lever 90 in the direction of arrow 17 and therefore release and the backward movement of sleeve 89 and the uncocking of spring 88.

A spiral spring 93 attached at one end to the stationary shaft 96 of jaw 86 and at the other end to the latter, causes opening movement of the jaw in the direction of arrow 17.

A spring 97 disposed between housing 80 and lever 90, urges the latter to its original sleeve engaging position.

In FIG. 9, boot 1 is clamped on ski 2 by a jaw 100 pivoted in housing 101. This jaw is urged in boot heel clamping position by a tension spring 102 attached at one end to an arm 103 integral with the jaw, and at the other end to a bar 105 slidably mounted in the clamp housing 101. This bar 105 is retained in spring tensioning position by a stud shaft 107 secured thereto and forming the end of a toggle lever system including two arms 113 and 114 pivotally interconnected by a pivot 115, the other end of the toggle lever system being pivoted at 116 to the housing.

Arm 114 has a notch 117, against which rests the end of arm 103, in order to break the toggle lever arrangement when the jaw 100 moves upwardly during safety release.

I-Iousing 101 is pushed against the boot heel by a compression spring 120 abutting against an ear 121 of the housing and a support 122 secured to the ski 2.

When the boot heel has disengaged, jaw without having caused safety upward movement of said jaw (see FIG. 10), housing 101 is pushed forwardly by spring 120, causing the break of the toggle lever system by the following means.

Referring to FIG. 9, a horizontal finger 125, which is secured to the ski 2, is located at the level of and overlies the notch 117 of arm'113 in the closed position of the clamp.

During advancing movement of casing 101, finger slides along the back ramp of notch 117, causing the break of the toggle lever system. This break is obtained by the downward movement of pivot 115 and causes forward movement of bar 105, uncocking of spring 102 and release of jaw 100, which opens completely under the action of tension spring 126 attached to the jaw 100 and the housing 101.

In FIG. 11, boot 1 is clamped on ski 2 by a jaw 130 carried by the clamp housing 131. Jaw 130 retains the boot sole by a toggle lever system pivoted at 132, 133, 134, and and is locked in boot clamping position by a roller 138 carried by lever 140, said roller bearing against another lever pivoted at 132 and urged into engagement with the roller 138 by means of an hair pin spring 146.

A lever is pivoted at 135 and, when its rear arm is pushed down, for example by means of the end of a ski pole, causes upward movement of the rear end of lever 145 in the direction of arrow 147. Pivotal movement of lever 145 releases roller 138 and breaks the toggle lever system and therefore allows opening of the jaw 130.

Moreover, in accordance with the invention, whenever any disengagement of the boot sole has not produced safety opening of the jaw (see FIG. 12), the clamp housing 131, which is urged forwardly-by a spring compressed between a fixed support 157 and an earl56 of the housing, will slide forwardly and cause the upward movement of the front part of lever 150 by interaction between ramp 159 of said lever and a fixed finger 158 integral with support 157. Lever 150 will therefore cause, as mentioned hereinabove, rocking of lever 145 in accordance with arrow 147 and the release of the jaw which is then urged into open position by a spring 154.

It is noted that the entire housing 131 was caused to move backward during boot clamping operation and maintained in this back position by the boot heel. This embodiment allows to obtain for every disengagement of the boot from the heel clamp the automatic raising and opening of the jaw ready for the next boot clamping operation.

' In FIGS. 13 and 14, boot 1 is clamped on ski 2 by a jaw 160 pivoted to clamp housing 161. Jaw 160 retains the boot sole by the locking action of a ball 162 pushed by a compression spring 163, which bears against an adjustable screw 166 carried by a sleeve slidably mounted in housing 161.

Sleeve 165 is maintained in forward position in which the spring 163 is compressed and corresponding to the safety locking position, by means of the hook 170 of a lever 171 pivoted at 172, said hook engaging the back of a collar 173 of bushing 165.

Lever 171 has been previously positioned in raised sleeve hooking position during .the boot clamping operation and maintained in this position by the boot sole engaging the front branch 175 of a spiral spring 176, the rear' branch of which engages said lever 171. On the other hand, lever 171 is urged into a lowered sleeve releasing position by means of a tension spring 178 which is much weaker thanspiral spring 176.

Whenever the boot sole disengages the clamp without raising the jaw 160 against the action of the safety system 162, 163, coil spring 176 is released. Lever 171 pivots downwardly under the action of spring 178 and its hook 170 releases collar 173 of sleeve 165, which then moves'backwards and decompresses spring 163, which releases jaw 160 and the latter, being urged by a tension spring 180, pivots automatically into open position and the clamp is ready for the next boot clamping operation.

In FIG. 15, clamp housing 196 is provided with an auxiliary lever 197 pivoted to housing at 198 and one arm of which forms a hook 199 retaining a bar 200 slidably mounted in housing 196.

A safety tension spring 201 is attached to bar 200 and to the arm 218 of the boot sole retaining the jaw 202, the latter pivoted on the housing.

Lever 197 is urged into rotation in accordance with arrow 17 by a tension spring 213 attached at one end to the arm 216 of lever 197, and at the other end to the clamp housing 196. Lever 197 forms a treadle engaging underneath the boot sole.

When the boot sole disengages the clamp without causing the safety opening of jaw 202 (see FIG. 16), treadle 197 pivots upwardly in the direction of arrow 17 under action of spring 213 and its hook 199 releases bar 200, which moves forwardly under action of spring 201. The latter allows opening pivotal movement of jaw 202 under the action of spiral spring 207.

It should be noted that, if lever 197 is retained on the ski, for example by ice, arm 218 of jaw 202 will push against arm 216 of lever 197 to assist the action of spring 213 in order to produce a force sufficient to detach lever 197 from ski 2.

-In FIGS. 17 and 18, the sole of the boot 1 is clamped on ski 2 by a jaw 220 pivotally mounted in the clamp housing. In this locking position, jaw 220 maintains, by means of its extension 221, a hook 222 in forwardly pulled position against the action of a tension spring 224.

Hook 222 is slidably mounted in a bracket 223, which is part of the clamp housing, and spring 224 is attachedat one end to hook 222 and at the other end to a transverse shaft 225, which is slidably mounted in a horizontal slot 226 of the clamp housing.

This shaft 225 serves as a pivot for the rear end of an external lever 230 (see FIG. 18), the front end of which bears against a recocking treadle 231 integral with jaw 220.

Lever 220 is pivoted intermediate its ends on a pivot 232 carried by an arm 235, itself pivoted at 236 on the clamp housing.

In the closed position of FIG. 17, lever 230 is held in the lowered position shown in dot-and-dash lines in FIG. 18, by means of arm 235, thus maintaining shaft 225 in its backward limit position, which in turn maintains the spring 224 in stressed condition.

Any disengagement of the boot sole from the clamp, which has not caused safety opening of jaw 220, will result in the following: the released lever 230 raises under the action of spring 224; shaft 225 moves forwardly; spring 224 is uncooked and allows'forward movement of hook 222 and, therefore, the opening movement of jaw 220 under the action of spiral spring 238. The jaw assumes its fully open position corresponding to a position ready for another boot clamping operation.

In FIGS. 19 and 20, boot sole 1 is retained on ski 2 by a jaw I243 rotatable on a pivot 246 carried by the clamp housing 247; the jaw is locked by a hook 248 carried by a shaft 249, which is maintained in jaw locking position by a compression spring 250 located within a sleeve 251 and bearing against said sleeve and against a nut 249 screwed on the rear end of shaft 249 and serving to adjust the spring compression. Hook 248 rests on a ramp 248 secured to housing 247. A treadle 252 is also pivotally mounted on pivot 246, said treadle adapted to extend underneath the boot sole, and carrying an end pivot 253 of a link 256, the other end of which is pivoted on a shaft 257 which is secured to sleeve 251 and enables the guiding of the same by the stud shaft 257 engaging a slot 258 of clamp housing 247.

When the clamp is in boot clamping position, as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, pivots 246 and 253 and shaft 257, together with treadle 252 and link 256,"form'a toggle lever system, pivot 253 being located slightly' below the line joining pivot 246 and shaft 257. Thus, treadle 252 is constantly urged in rotation in the direction of arrow 17.

When the boot sole disengages the heel clamp, for example due to release of the toe ski clamp, the heel clamp takes a position shown in FIGS. 21 and 22. The treadle 252 pivots upwardly under the action of spring 250 with the intermediaryof link.256, and at the same time, stud shaft 257 slides in slot .258; therefore, sleeve 251 pivots and moves forwardly and causes decompression of spring 250.

Because finger 248 (see FlG. 20) has fallen ahead of ramp 248' and has released jaw 243, the latter comes under the action of the opening force exerted by a spiral spring 259 surrounding shaft 246 and therefore the jaw rotates in accordance with arrow 17 to fully open position.

In the open position of the jaw, the user can easily effect another boot clamping operation without any manual attendance to the clamp.

I claim:

l. A safety boot heel clamp for skis of the type having a boot retaining jaw adapted to engage on a boot heel, said clamp comprising a safety locking mechanism connected to said jaw and arranged to releasably lock the latter into the boot engaging position, a locking member operatively connected to said safety locking mechanism to lock the jaw into the boot engaging position, an elastic means operatively connected to the jaw and acting thereon in the boot disengaging direction thereof, a displaceable element arranged to be engaged and displaced by the boot heel when the latter is operatively positioned on a ski, said displaceable element being mounted for displacement between a cocked position and an uncocked position, a spring means connected to said displaceable element and arranged to bias the latter towards the uncocked position, and said displaceable element and said locking member being operatively connected to each othersuch that removal of the boot heel from engagement with said displaceable element causes displacement of the latter towards said uncocked position, resulting in release of said locking member and opening of the jaw under the action of said elastic means.

2. A clamp as claimed in claim 1, in which said elastic means consists of at least one jaw opening spring.

3. A clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein said displaceable member is a pivoted treadle and unlocking of the safety locking mechanism is caused by raising of said treadle.

4. A clamp as claimed in claim 3, wherein said safety locking mechanism has slidable sleeve and a jaw closing spring mounted in said sleeve, a link is pivotally connected to said treadle and to said sleeve, the jaw and said sleeve are pivotally mounted on a clamp housing, the pivot of the link on the treadle is offset with respect to a line joining the pivot of the jaw and the pivot of the sleeve, the latter pivot being guided in a slot of the clamp housing, said treadle allowing detent of said jaw closing spring and automatic opening of the jaw under the action of said elastic means. 7

5. A clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein said displaceable element is a clamp housing mounted on slideways arranged to be fixed to a ski such that forward movement of the clamp housing causes unlocking of the safety locking mechanism.

6. A clamp as claimed in claim 5, wherein said a safety locking mechanism comprises a slidable sleeve and a jaw closing spring mounted within said sleeve, said locking member consists of a lever pivoted on said clamp housing and adapted to engage and lock said sleeve, a stationary finger extending in the path of movement of said lever such that forward movement of said clamp housing will cause engagement of said stationary finger and said lever causing rotation of the latter and unlocking of said sleeve, resulting in detent of said jaw closing spring.

7. A clamp as claimed in claim 5, wherein said safety locking mechanism comprises a slidable bar and a jaw closing spring abutting against said slidable bar, said locking member consists of a toggle linkage pivoted at one end on said clamp housing and at the other end on said slidable bar, a stationary finger mounted in the path of displacement of said toggle linkage such that upon forward movement of said clamp housing, said toggle linkage is actuated by said stationary finger allowing slidable movement of said slidable bar and detent of said jaw closing spring, resulting in opening of the jaw by said elastic means.

8. A clamp as claimed in claim 5, wherein said safety locking mechanism comprises a treadle and a jaw actuating lever pivotally mounted on said clarnp housing, the jaw is ivotally connected to said treadle and to said jaw actuating ever, said locking member consists of an un ocking lever pivotally mounted adjacent said jaw actuating lever, and a stationary finger is provided in thepath of displacement of said unlocking lever such that foqvard movement of the stamp housing and the unlocking lever causes said stationary finger to actuate said unlocking lever, thereby unlocking the jaw and allowing opening thereof by upward displacement of the treadle under the action of said elastic means.

9. A clamp as claimed in claim 8, in which said elastic means consists of at least one spring acting on said treadle.

10. A clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein said clamp comprises a clamp housing and said displaceable element consists of a pivoted treadle such that upward displacement of the treadle causes detent of said safety locking mechanism, resulting in opening of the jaw under the action of said elastic means.

11. A clamp as claimed in claim 10, wherein said treadle is pivotable on a pivot slidably mounted in a slot of said clamp housing, said locking member consists of a lever pivotally connected to said treadle and arranged to form a toggle linkage therewith, said safety locking mechanism comprising a jaw locking element and a jaw closing spring connected at one end to said jaw locking element and at the other end to said pivot such that upward displacement of said treadle causes unlocking of said toggle linkage and sliding of said pivot, resulting in detent of the jaw closing spring and opening of the jaw under the action of said elastic means. 

